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The cry was so terrible it awoke the count; he rang violently, bringing the whole household to their feet; and the groans of Madame Michaud, who as she lay on the ground, gave birth to a child that died in being born, brought the general and all the servants about her. They raised the poor dying woman, who expired, saying to the general: "They have murdered him!"
To this circumstance the old man was indebted for his twenty-five francs. He left the room with a timid glance at Michaud, making him an interminable series of bows. "What I was saying to monseigneur, Monsieur Michaud," he added, "was really for your good." "Or for that of those who pay you," replied Michaud, with a searching look.
"My mother heard him say he would; she told me at Ville-aux-Fayes where I went to carry her some money and her clothes. Well; let that countess keep her money! our five hundred francs shall help Godain buy the land; and we'll revenge ourselves for this thing. Ha! Michaud meddles with our private matters, does he? it will bring him more harm than good.
"So," continued Vermichel, "he said to Monsieur Michaud, 'I'll go as soon as the court is up. If he had wanted to find the cows he'd have gone at seven o'clock in the morning. But that didn't suit Michaud, and Brunet has had to be off. You can't take in Michaud, he's a trained hound! Ha, the brigand!"
On reaching the entrance to the Arcade of the Pont Neuf, Laurent was stopped by Michaud. "Do not accompany us any further," said he; "your presence would be a sort of brutal avowal which must be avoided. The wretched mother would suspect a misfortune, and this would force us to confess the truth sooner than we ought to tell it to her. Wait for us here."
Michaud, as he said this, took notice of Sibilet, whose expression of keen delight in Fourchon's daring words was not seen by the four persons seated at the table, because they were so preoccupied by the old man; whereas Michaud, who for secret reasons watched Sibilet constantly, was struck with his air and manner.
Madame de Montcornet walked in front with Blondet. The abbe and Michaud and his wife talked in a low voice of the revelation that had just been made to the countess of the state of the country. "Perhaps it is providential," said the abbe; "for if madame is willing, we might, perhaps, by dint of benefits and constant consideration of their wants, change the hearts of these people."
"Don't cry, Michaud, go out by the connecting trench to the dressing station. It's not far." The hail of "coal scuttles" having subsided, the General mounted to his observation post. "Hey! Michel! Gaston! hey there, the artillery!" he yelled. "Get in at them quick. Go to it, I say. Don't you see they're going to attack! What's artillery for, anyway?" "We can't fire a shot.
"Such as?" asked Rigou, who never allowed himself to understand a hint. "Well, if the worst of the band, the best shot, sent a ball whistling round the ears of the count just to frighten him?" "He's a man to rush at an assailant and collar him." "Michaud, then." "Michaud would do nothing at the moment, but he'd watch and spy till he found out the man and those who instigated him."
"We cannot leave this unhappy woman here," said he to Michaud. "She is perhaps threatened with grave illness. We must positively take her back to Paris. Come, let us persuade her to accompany us." Upstairs, he begged and prayed of Therese to rise and dress, and allow herself to be conducted to the Arcade of the Pont Neuf.
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